Best, Prettiest Freeway Interchange

Interstate 19/Interstate 10

Staff Pick

Anyone can build a freeway interchange--just look at Phoenix. But it takes real talent to make freeway architecture pretty. You may have noticed the geometric designs of various plants gracing the columns and walls of the I-10/I-19 interchange, as they're blatantly obvious. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration, the designs were created to satisfy the public's thirst for a "multicultural theme." The tasteful pictures of sunflowers, corn, beans and squash are meant to "symbolize the Yaqui, O'Odham, Apache, Hispanic, African, Asian and European peoples who have built communities, raised crops and continue to travel along these historic routes," the FHA Web site says. Who knew a column supporting an overpass could also support a history lesson?